Its iridescent eye blinks at me, a low noise rumbling from its chest that makes me stop. “It won’t hurt you,” Slade says quietly.
“I know.”
I lift my hand slowly, watching the beast watch me. Then I gently place my palm against its snout. It thrums with power. With darkness and death. But it thrums with the familiarity of Slade too. Terrifying and comforting all at the same time.
“He feels like you,” I murmur, glancing over at Slade. He’s watching me, not the dragon, and the look in his eyes makes my breath hold still, stuck in place. He looks at me like I’ve hung the sun in the sky.
“From what I understand, dragons manifest from powerandsoul. So it will feel like me…just as it also feels like you, because our souls are rooted together.”
I drop my hand to turn around. “So what you’re saying is, this is your dragon…but it’s also kind ofmydragon,” I say with a playful smirk.
He drags his hand over the top curve of my ass and then taps playfully. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. Now get on, Goldfinch, and let’s fly.”
I spin around in excitement, and Slade offers me his hand to help me up. I brace my feet and start to climb the spikes. Thedragon puts its leg out straighter, as if to help me, and then Slade follows. We settle on its arched back, and I grip the spike in front of me as Slade sits right behind me.
He puts his hands at my waist, squeezing. “Hold on.”
I take a breath, and then we’re in the air. Powerful reptilian wings stretch out and take us up higher and higher. The fae gathered below wave and cheer as we lift into the sky.
My stomach dips even as my heart soars.
“This is incredible!” I shout back to Slade, my ribbons curled between us.
My back rests against his chest, and feeling his solid, warm presence behind me is a comfort all its own.
“Youwere incredible,” he says in my ear, making butterflies swarm in my stomach.
“So were you.”
One of his hands comes around me, pressing against my abdomen. I lean into his embrace, letting myself take a breath, letting the tension melt out of my muscles.
I watch the dragon’s shadow as we fly over the land below, taking in the contrast of rotted land and lush greenery.
“Is it strange? For you to be back here?” I ask as the wind whips past us.
The dragon circles wider, taking us higher, as if it knows we need a moment alone.
“It is,” Slade admits. “But it’s also not.”
“I know exactly what you mean.”
From this vantage point, I have a much clearer view of just how many soldiers the dragon decimated. “I don’t see any survivors.”
“No,” he agrees. “The dragon was pretty fucking thorough.”
“Wait until the others see your dragon,” I say with a grin. “Judd is going to be the first one to ask for a ride.”
Slade chuckles and I feel his amusement rumble through my back. “I have a feeling this creature will only ever tolerate you and me.”
“Judd will be very disappointed.”
“So long as I never disappointyou, Goldfinch.”
“You never could,” I reply before looking back at him teasingly. “And I’ll tell you a secret.”
His eyebrow cocks up, waiting.
“I’ve always loved hearing you call me Goldfinch.”
